How Local Businesses Grow in Ashby - Fishers on the Case - EP 13 Jack McPhillips

Why Being a Lawyer Was the Perfect Foundation for My Writing Business - Fishers on the Case - EP 14 Kirsty France

What happens when you trade the courtroom for the copy desk? In this episode of Fishers on the Case, CEO Amanda Payne sits down with Kirsty France, founder of Kirsty France Writes, to explore her fascinating transition from a 10-year career as a solicitor to becoming a professional copywriter and fiction author. Kirsty reveals how her legal background specifically her time in personal injury and defendant litigation gave her a unique "Guide" authority, allowing her to translate complex technical jargon into compelling stories for businesses. We dive into the importance of networking, overcoming writer's block by "writing nonsense," and the mindset shift required to move from professional services to creative entrepreneurship.

How Local Businesses Grow in Ashby - Fishers on the Case - EP 13 Jack McPhillips

In this episode of Fishers on the Case, Amanda Payne sits down with Jack McBillips from Digital Office to talk about local business, family-run companies, and how Ashby has changed over the years. Jack shares his journey from studying business and marketing to joining the family business, starting from the ground up, and helping Digital Office grow into a modern provider of print, IT, cloud and telecoms solutions. Amanda and Jack also discuss the growth of Ashby, the importance of face-to-face relationships, working in a family business, and why local businesses continue to play such an important role in the community.

Why Does It Take So Long to Buy and Sell a House? - Fishers on the Case - EP 12 Martyn Baum

In this episode of Fishers on the Case, host Amanda Payne is joined by Martyn Baum, estate agent and long-standing friend of Fishers, to discuss the realities of buying and selling property. Martyn shares how he fell into estate agency through work experience, his journey from trainee estate agent to running his own business, and why property is ultimately about people, relationships and trust. Amanda and Martyn also explore why property transactions now take much longer than they used to, what causes delays in conveyancing, why communication between estate agents and solicitors matters, and what could be done to improve the process for buyers and sellers.

What Is It Like to be a sole trader? – Fishers on the Case – EP 11

In this episode of Fishers on the Case, host Amanda Payne is joined by Sophie Allen from Serrano Media to discuss what it is really like setting up and running a small business as a sole trader. Sophie shares her journey from working in retail to building a career in graphic design, gaining hands-on experience in print and marketing before launching her own business. They discuss the realities of being a sole trader, including wearing multiple hats, managing finances and learning new skills along the way. The conversation also explores the power of networking, building meaningful relationships through events like Ashby Connect, and how strong client relationships define success.

Financial Planning, Careers and Local Business Collaboration in Ashby – Fishers on the Case – EP 10

In this episode of Fishers on the Case, host Amanda Payne is joined by Sharon Butter, Senior Financial Adviser at Ashwood Law Wealth Management Ltd. Sharon discusses her career journey from studying business management and financial services to working in banking before moving into financial planning. The conversation explores how financial planning has evolved over time, the qualifications required within the industry, and how advisers work with pensions, investments, protection and long term financial planning. Amanda and Sharon also discuss the role local professional firms play within communities like Ashby, and why collaboration between legal and financial professionals can support clients across different areas of life and business.